Ontario International Airport Partners with USO to Collect Toiletries for Military Members

As passengers go through the security screening area at Ontario International Airport, they may find themselves with items like toothpaste, sunscreen, or other personal care items that are too large to keep in their carry-on luggage, but are still in good condition. Instead of throwing them away, they can now donate these items to the Toiletries for Troops program, a partnership between the airport and the USO, to support military personnel traveling through the airport.

Through the program, dedicated bins have been placed outside the TSA screening areas in both terminals for passengers to drop off their gently used or new toiletries. The collected items will be distributed to military personnel either departing for deployment or returning home, while gently used items will be donated to Seeds of Hope for Veterans, a nonprofit that supports local veterans. This initiative aims to not only support the well-being of service members but also reduce waste by repurposing items that would otherwise end up in landfills.

Key Takeaways:

• The Toiletries for Troops program allows passengers to donate gently used or new toiletries in the airport's security screening area to support military personnel.
• Collected toiletries will be distributed to military personnel either departing for deployment or returning home, while gently used items will be donated to Seeds of Hope for Veterans.
• The initiative aims to reduce waste by repurposing toiletries that would otherwise go to local landfills and support the well-being of service members.
• The program is a partnership between Ontario International Airport and the USO, with dedicated bins placed outside TSA screening areas in both terminals.
• Heba Shanaa, Environmental Planner for the Ontario International Airport Authority, stated that the program will help passengers feel better about discarding items, as they will be contributing to the well-being of service members while also protecting the planet.
• Brandi Elias, USO Inland Empire Area Operations Manager, highlighted the partnership as a perfect solution to meet ongoing needs, providing essential toiletries to troops traveling through Inland Empire USO locations.

Statistics:

• The Toiletries for Troops program is located in both terminals of the Ontario International Airport, with dedicated bins placed outside TSA screening areas for passengers to donate toiletries.
• Collected toiletries will be distributed to military personnel departing for deployment or returning home, with gently used items donated to Seeds of Hope for Veterans.
• Ontario International Airport is California's most popular mid-sized airport, according to J.D. Power's North America Airport Satisfaction Study.
• The airport offers nonstop commercial jet service to two dozen major airports in the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and Taiwan.
• The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development, and marketing of ONT.

Sources:

• Ontario International Airport
• USO
• J.D. Power's North America Airport Satisfaction Study